Confidence is crucial when deciding to become a rapper. If you don’t exude a certain arrogance that drips off you, you might as well reconsider your career. Being brash and pretentious is actually a plus and not frowned upon in hip-hop. It’s cool to have the lyrics and flows, but being the quintessential rapper requires a dose of cockiness.

That’s why Future is excelling. The precocious songwriter-turned-rapper has developed a strong foundation: delivering hooks where he croons in Auto-Tune. The formula spawned hits like “Tony Montana,” “Magic,” “Same Damn Time” and his recent No. 1 smash, “Turn On The Lights.”

While interviewing Future, he confidently conveyed his multi-faceted background in sports – especially in hoops, comparing himself to Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant – what he would do if he was commissioner for a day, his starting five, NBA comparison, and if he sees himself having longevity with autotune.

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Dime:According to your bio, you were a real active athlete and hooper. Do you remember the first time you actually fell in love with the game of basketball?Future: When I was growing up I just naturally started playing basketball around my uncle’s crib. I also loved playing football and baseball. As a kid, I just played all three sports.

Dime: Because you were shot in the hand, you were forced to stop playing basketball. If that never happened, how successful do you feel you could have been playing the game?Future: Man I was good. Everything I did I was good at. You never know how far I could of gone. I’m in the right place right now. I could have been in the NBA. I say the NBA because I always took my game to the next level. I was always that dude. I was a scorer. I was an MVP on the team. From a kid, I was always that dude on the team. I’m not just saying it. I was the point guard controlling the ball. We had a point guard who wanted me to be the shooting guard. I would always shoot and I would always start. When I played football, basketball and baseball, I was always a starter. I played baseball as the number three or number four hitter. Playing baseball, I was the third baseman or pitcher. Football, I was the quarterback. I was always versatile. It came to me naturally. It was always easy.

Dime:Who would you say your game was like basketball-wise?Future: My game was more like Dwyane [Wade] mixed with Kobe [Bryant]. You know what I’m saying?

Dime:So you were just killing dudes out here, going straight to the cup? (Laughs)Future: Yeah man ‘cuz I got the heart of Dwyane Wade. I was always tripping off the fouls and falling. I had the jumper like Kobe. I was always in my mind thinking of the moves to make before I did ‘em.

Dime:If you were able to choose four other players with you to form a starting five including yourself, who would you choose and why?Future Man, I’d take Kevin Garnett because he’s a team player, Paul Pierce because he could hit the threes, Dwyane Wade because he got the heart and LeBron James because he’s just aggressive.

Dime:1-on-1, mano e mano, you versus 2 Chainz. Who’s taking that game?Future: (Laughs) You can’t even compare him to me. You can’t compare us since I never seen him play. So I can’t really say. (Laughs)

Dime:If David Stern said you could be commissioner for the day, what would you implement or change in regards to the league?Future: What would I add to the league? I mean, I’d give more dudes on the street a chance. You know what I’m saying? I would have somewhere where they can tryout. Also, like you know how some dudes get in trouble for either riding with someone with a gun in their car, having drugs that wasn’t theirs, or just being falsely accused, I’d give them a chance to just get back in the game and see their dreams.

Dime:I feel you. That would be big for a lot of dudes.Future: Yeah man because there’s a lot of dudes who could have been in the NBA and enjoy their experience playing the game but now can’t because the league won’t allow that due to certain criteria.

Dime:There could be a LeBron James in the playgrounds but dudes would never know. Future: Everybody just needs a second chance.